'Girl dinner' deals under $30 at Long Island restaurants
“Girl lunch” from Moonfish Brewery in Riverhead is served in a jumbo martini glass. Credit: Newsday/Melissa Azofeifa
There’s something about a Caesar salad, french fries and a drink that just hits the spot. The meal is at the center of the low-effort and snack-based "girl dinner" trend, a social media craze that has been gaining popularity at Long Island eateries.
"The idea behind the trend is to balance something healthy with a little bit of a treat," Babylon Social co-owner Brittani Cappiello said. "Girl dinner" has been on the menu at this eatery since it opened last summer.
The dinner pairing is $25 at 317 Main St., where it made its menu debut late last year. It's ordered more than 100 times a week at the Farmingdale restaurant, director of marketing Karina Costello said. "We have people coming in all day for them," she said. "Everybody really loves it."
What makes a "girl dinner"? The meal changes with each diner, and is often constructed at home using what one has in their refrigerator. Videos on TikTok and Instagram show users plating theirs, combining fruits, cheeses, dips and vegetables in pairings that may only satisfy one's personal palate. Most plate builds avoid the need to turn on the oven or use the stove, hence the low effort and convenience. And while the dish may vary, at its epicenter is the Caesar salad and french fry pairing, now appearing on restaurant menus as a bundle. Easily customized and paired with other dishes, the Caesar salad makes the perfect anchor for the "girl dinner" bundle.
It's important to note that just because the name of the bundled meal is "girl dinner," that doesn’t mean it isn’t for everyone. "I have guys who are also ordering it because it’s a good deal," said Michael Lauria, owner of Rudi’s Bar & Grill in Patchogue.
Whether you get your Caesar salad and fries served in tiered bowls or in a jumbo martini glass, these Long Island eateries are serving up the ultimate "girl dinner" experience.
317 Main Street
317 Main St., Farmingdale
Choose between the staple Caesar salad and truffle fries or prosciutto-wrapped burrata at this eatery owned by Food Network’s "Chopped" champion Eric LeVine. The $25 bundle also comes with an espresso martini or glass of wine and is available Tuesday to Thursday all day at the bar. More info: 516-512-5317, 317mainstreet.com
Babylon Social
100 Deer Park Ave., Babylon
For $20.95, a Caesar salad comes with any protein — crispy or grilled chicken, tuna or filet tidbits. Choose between truffle, sweet potato or regular french fries.
Babylon Social also sells about 100 "girl dinners" a week, Cappiello said. More info: 631-314-6100, babylonsocial.com
Rudi’s Bar & Grill
554 Rte. 112, Patchogue
The $30 bundle offered Thursdays from 5 p.m. to midnight includes an 8-ounce bowl of penne alla vodka, french fries, a salad and an espresso martini.
Lauria said they only started offering the $30 bundle two months ago . They sell between 10 and 15 girl dinners a week, he said. More info: 631-627-6726, rudisbarandgrill.com
Moonfish Brewery
221 E. Main St., Suite 5, Riverhead
The girl dinner at this Riverhead brewery facing the Peconic River is a must-see. Though it’s labeled "girl lunch" on the menu, patrons can order it at any time. The Caesar salad with grilled chicken and fries are served in a jumbo martini glass, which makes the $23.90 meal an experience of its own.
Rob Kurtz, co-owner and director of operations, said the bundle is among the bestsellers on the menu. "You eat with your eyes first," Kurtz said. "It’s just one of those things where the minute one of those [orders] goes out, five to 10 of them go out." More info: 631-212-1265, moonfishbrew.com
Melissa Azofeifa is a restaurants reporter with Newsday's FeedMe team. Having grown up on Long Island, she loves talking about food and its impact on culture. A graduate of Stony Brook University, she joined Newsday in the fall of 2024.
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